Medical Support and Health Care Enforcement

The enforcement of health care expenses is a part of child support enforcement. The information contained in our medical packet will provide you with a basic working knowledge of your rights and responsibilities regarding medical child support. Packets regarding medical enforcement are available through the Friend of the Court upon request. Remember this is general information that pertains to most cases. Please write to the Friend of the Court Office if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Parents should discuss health care procedures and the costs for any procedures for the minor child with each other. Parents should keep each other informed of doctor appointments and all medications that a child is taking.

If you have insurance for your children, you are required to provide the Friend of the Court Office and the other parent with your current insurance information. Insurance information should be provided directly from one parent to the other; do not ask the Friend of the Court Office to be the go-between for you and the other parent.

Should there be any change in health insurance coverage, you must inform the Friend of the Court Office and the other parent, in writing. Most Court orders require that health care coverage be maintained, or obtained and maintained by both parties if available at a reasonable cost as a benefit of employment or as an optional coverage for dependents on a policy already obtained. Should neither parent have health care coverage as a benefit of employment or if neither parent is able to purchase health insurance at a reasonable cost, then neither party is required to purchase health care insurance. However, all uninsured health care costs will be apportioned between the parties in accordance with the medical percentage split established by the Court. From time to time you may also receive a notice to provide insurance information so that we can update your file.

The medical percentage split is based on the percentage of each parent’s income to the parents’ combined income. The medical percentage to be paid by each parent can be found in your Uniform Child Support Order.

Ideally, both parties should work together in making your children’s medical decisions. In terms of routine medical care, the physical custodial parent typically bears that responsibility and the Friend of the Court will not second-guess those decisions.